Proud of them all

Steve Haslam has reflected on a pulsating night of football at Hillsborough and expressed his pride having watched the Owls’ Under-18s progress to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

The academy coach went through a range of emotions as his side shared eight goals with Crystal Palace before emerging 4-2 winners from a penalty shootout.

He told swfc.co.uk: “It was an incredible game, so entertaining, and our boys did themselves proud. They ran themselves into the ground and could not have given anything more.

“Palace were quick and clever in and around the box but we also knew that we would create chances of our own.

“As a coach, it was a draining game but a pulsating one to watch.”

Haslam was reluctant to pick out one individual on a night of so many heroes but when pressed, the ex-Owls defender nodded his appreciation to young winger Jack Stobbs.

He said: “Jack was outstanding on the night, he terrorised their left back before he tired later in the game.

“But I thought they were all superb. They dug deep and showed a massive amount of togetherness.

“It was a great experience for them all. The build-up to the game was new to them with it being played at Hillsborough, it was under the lights and that can only benefit them on their career paths.

“I think anyone would struggle to see a game with so much drama and we must give credit to Palace for their part and especially Jacob Berkeley-Aygepong, who scored a hat-trick but ended on the losing side.

“For our lads, they must take that form and work ethic into the league programme and continue to show improvement.”

The draw for the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup takes place this coming Friday, 13 December.